I am believing in my heart for a worldwide revival. Peter spoke, quoting from Joel in Acts 2:17a, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." God, through the Church, will manifest His authority and power in all nations, "to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10).
The great outpouring of the Spirit continues in our time. Today, in a variety of different levels, God is moving upon all flesh. There is a variety of different terminologies used. A few of these are charismatic, latter rain, glossalia and spiritual renewal. I prefer to call ourselves Christians, however, people give expression to what they feel and know.
I feel to say this concerning the young people of our country that God has been visiting, the so-called "Jesus movement," etc. We hear the rumblings of criticism and some judging. There are no doubt some irregularities, imperfections and errors, but who can doubt the genuineness of the change that has come amongst many of them. The past has shown this has always been the case, until we come to more maturity, divine order and leadership. The Word of God must be taught and obeyed.
I would suggest that no one at this point should judge hastily the work of the Holy Ghost among the masses of people in different groups, young or old, because God has not finished as yet what He has begun.
I would like to ask the question of critics, how long has it taken God to deal with your life and your particular background? I dare say there are still some imperfections and room for improvement. I am aware of the fact that the scripture does say to prove all things and hold fast that which is good, but still I would not be too quick to judge.
I believe, as it was with Esther of old, we have come to the kingdom for such an hour as we are in now. Now is the time to move into the divine principles that we have been describing and to provide some God-ordained leadership. God has been preparing the Church for this time of need by providing genuine leadership in apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to flow through the Body of Christ for guidance and direction (Eph. 4:11,12). God sent Joseph ahead to Egypt to be a blessing to his brethren in that hour of need.
We are living in the closing days of time. Anyone who has any knowledge of the scripture and has any observation of what is transpiring in the world should know that we need direction. God has decreed that the manifold wisdom of God would be demonstrated through the Church. Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).
God is raising up the Body of Christ, the Church, from all nations, with power and authority to have an impact upon world governments and leaders in this hour.
When communism takes over in a country, it does not mean that the Church has become extinct; quite to the contrary the Church today in Cuba is stronger than ever before. We also hear similar reports from other countries.
I believe that all past heaven-sent revivals and truths that have been established, along with what God is doing today, will consummate in the mightiest revival and victory against evil that the world has ever known. Do not think for one moment that the Church will go down into oblivion. Not so, the rock mentioned by Daniel, that was cut out without hands, will smash the great image.
When I speak of the 1948 revival, I do not discredit or exclude other revivals, but rather include them. God has been restoring since Luther's time, line upon line, precept upon precept, that the Church as a unified body will be a power to reckon with before Christ's coming. I have written about the 1948 revival to clear up some misunderstandings and to show that the 1948 revival was God adding to the structure of the Church.
I was there when the revival came and observed the seven principles that were to guide us. I do not believe anyone can biblically discredit these principles. My prayer is that this discourse will be a blessing to you.
I feel impressed by the Lord to tell a vision that God gave me. This will convey as much or perhaps more than anything else I could say about what God has
done, is doing and will do in the future. I am cautious about visions and dreams, but I have been made to realize that there are genuine visions and dreams.
We were holding meetings in Minnesota and crowds were attending. People from different churches were coming together, rejoicing in fellowship and seeing the signs and wonders being performed through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. Sick bodies were being healed, cripples miraculously delivered.
It happened at a prayer meeting one afternoon while we were fasting and praying for the night service. While we were all on our faces before God, a holy hush came down on the meeting. We all felt like Isaiah of old in the year that king Uzziah died. He saw the Lord high and holy. We felt like the old prophet, unworthy and incompetent. My heart was melted before the Lord as I was thinking of the condition of Christ's Body, the Church, all divided and powerless to meet the over-whelming need of the world, knowing that we were even losing ground. The Church as a whole is not keeping the pace with this increase because of our lack of cooperation in a common effort.
These thoughts were running through my mind, and having studied church history, I knew that whenever God revealed a new truth the ones closest to it quite often reject it. Would people reject the truth that God is wanting to make His people one? I thought of my friends in the ministry. Would they accept or reject? For my part, I had made up my mind I was going on with the Lord, but what of my friends? These things troubled me.
Just at that time the Lord gave me a vision. It was so clear, it was as if someone had projected the vision on a screen. I saw a monstrous man lying on his back on the earth. He was not dead as I saw him move slightly. Perched near his left side, I observed a huge eagle. This eagle was eating at the very heart of the man. I could see that with his claws he was pulling the flesh away and with his beak he would tear the flesh and devour it like any vulture eating his prey. Then I saw other birds, such as magpies and crows, who would in turn land on the body and snatch a piece of flesh here and there and would fly away.
I was at a complete loss to know what the vision meant. I did not understand at the time the spiritual significance of the vision because I had not seen the truth in the Bible about the perfect man spoken of in Ephesians 4:13 which is the Body of Christ. Finally I inquired of the Lord the meaning of what I was viewing. To my astonishment I heard the voice of the Lord say in a sympathetic tone, "This is My Body, the Church." Then as if the Lord pulled back the curtain of obscurity from my mind, I saw not only the vision that I beheld before me, but the true condition of the Church. I knew that the eagle was none other than the devil himself eating away at the heart of the Church. You will agree with me that the heart of the Church is unity. United we stand, but divided we fall.
My mind was as clear as could be. I thought of the thirty-three different groups of Pentecost and each one shouting he is right. I thought of the many groups of Baptists, Lutherans and others too numerous to mention here, with new groups being incorporated almost everyday. Anyone knows this is not the will of God. God showed me that clearly. I thought of the lack of missionary vision in America with all her fine church buildings and wealthy denominations while the lost heathen are perishing with no one to tell them. I have never belittled any effort being made but God showed me how little was being done compared to what could be done if all would pool their resources and manpower. I thought of our lack of power to deliver the oppressed, to heal the sick, to cast out devils. I had seen many times that these even in our largest conventions went home just as they came, in spite of the fact that the clergy were there. These thoughts were passing through my mind.
God was showing me in this vision what was wrong--for something was radically wrong. To my mind, the greatest lack in the Church is unity.
Then the Lord let me see the many other conditions: the pride, hypocrisy, jealousy, greed, hatred and all the lusts of the flesh. It was a picture similar to what the prophet described concerning Israel, full of putrefying sores from head to foot. Only the Spirit of God could cause me to see and realize this pitiful condition. I never dreamed that the Church could be in such a state.
As I meditated on these things, my heart became burdened. All the while this was happening, I was still looking at the vision. The burden grew stronger and I found myself weeping and praying. Spiritual intercession came upon me from God. I had read in Romans 8:26 that "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." This was happening to me. It was an experience that I shall never forget. It was as if I were listening to myself as the Spirit prayed through me on behalf of the awful condition of the Church. Over and over again the Spirit would pray, "Oh, that my people were one." It was in keeping with our Lord's prayer, for surely God makes no mistakes. I have heard about travail upon a woman with child and I was experiencing what a ministry of soul travail was like. I have realized since, that the intercession I was going through should be the burden of the whole Church joining in with the prayer of Jesus, "that they all may be one."
This must have lasted for over an hour, when suddenly, as if someone put another slide in the projector, the vision changed. I saw this same monstrous man standing erect on his feet. God was now showing me the second part of the vision--what the Church would be like when He finished His work of grace in her. As I looked at the vision, I was surprised to see not only the man standing on his feet, but there was no sign of the eagle or any of the other fowl. When the Church comes to her own in united strength, and is filled with the mighty power of God and the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, I can well imagine there would be no devil or his imps around. They would all depart because of the power of God. I shall refer to this later.
So I saw this large man in the peak of condition. One would think of the mighty Atlas, the muscle-building man that you read about in magazines. The muscles stood out on his arms, chest and legs. He looked so full of life and vitality. I could see that he was impatient and anxious to do something. He would move his head sideways as if listening for someone to give him marching orders. I thought of the scriptures, there came a voice from behind me saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Is. 30:21). God shall speak to His army (Joel 2:11). To my amazement this huge man began to walk across the earth with great strides. He seemed to be sure of every step he took.
I now became so excited, I was determined not to miss a thing. I saw the man heading for a clump of trees which I assumed he would detour. Let me digress a little. Too often that is exactly what we do. When some crisis comes up in the Church, someone is taken with cancer, or someone has had a nervous breakdown or some other very serious thing, we often go around the bush and avoid the situation by saying, "Maybe we had better consult the physician." Or perhaps we rush the individual to the institution rather than calling a prayer meeting or a fast. We should be able to pray the prayer of deliverance and set the captive free, but too often we lack the power of God and so avoid the situation. Not so with this man; he went straight forward into the trees, and as I looked, I could see the trees falling in every direction. Some were torn up by the roots. He did not slacken his pace at all but went through like a mighty bulldozer.
By now I was beginning to realize that God was going to have a victorious Church. The real meaning of the vision began to dawn on me. I heard the voice of the Lord again. It was as if He leaned over the canopy of heaven. He said the identical words that I heard Him say in the first part of the vision when I saw the man lying on his back. But this time there was a militant tone in His voice, "This is My Body, the Church." At that moment, the intercession ceased and there sprang up in my soul a song of praise. I knew now that God was going to have a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Eph. 5:27). That is why Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). The true rendering of this passage is not what many suppose. In the original it means that we shall make war on the gates of hell, and they shall not prevail against us.
The vision was a true one and it is being fulfilled before our very eyes. There has been an awakening in the Church. God's people are in many places flowing together and working together as they have never done before. Our greatest campaigns today are the ones where God's people pray together, work together and rejoice together. Billy Graham's campaigns, and many others are proof of this.
At the end of the vision, God spoke to me once more. You will remember that I related to you already something of my concern over the many details involving God's people coming together. God knew that I needed something more. Worrying about details has never gotten anyone anywhere yet. Have any of us been able to settle all the details? The final word the Lord gave me was "obey Me and please leave Me the details." Obedience is the principle thing. Our obedience to the known will of God is the thing that will do more regarding the details than anything else. It is not mine to question or be fearful, but to obey. God will bring His people together some way or another. It will be done largely by the operation of the Spirit of God. It may even be necessary for God to send a great wave of persecution. Nevertheless there is a stirring visitation today that is challenging every child of God.
I feel, in conclusion, like the writer of the Acts of the Apostles, that I should omit the "amen because the Acts of the Apostles are not over yet, and neither is the revival of which I speak. It continues now and will grow in momentum in the future.